Biden tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of Nevada event

President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of a planned campaign appearance at the UnidosUS conference in Las Vegas.

“He is vaccinated and immunized and is experiencing mild symptoms,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “He will return to Delaware where he will self-isolate and continue to perform all of his full duties during this time.”

According to Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden “experienced upper respiratory symptoms this afternoon,” including a runny nose, a “nonproductive cough,” and “general malaise.”

“He felt fine for his first event of the day, but because he was not feeling better, point-of-care COVID-19 testing was performed and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus,” O’Connor continued, adding that Biden’s temperature is normal at 97.8 degrees and his blood oxygen level is 97%. He received his first dose of Paxlovid, Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral treatment, on Wednesday.

“I feel great,” Biden said as he boarded Air Force One to leave Nevada for Delaware.

Biden’s planned speech at the UnidosUS rally was part of an effort to counter-program the Republican National Convention, which is taking place in Milwaukee, and boost support among Hispanic voters in a key state that helped give him the White House in 2020.

UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía announced the news to the crowd before the White House confirmation.

“I just spoke on the phone with President Biden, and he expressed his deep disappointment that he couldn’t be with us this afternoon,” she said. “The president has been at many events, as we all know, and he just tested positive for COVID.”

Earlier Wednesday, Biden visited Linda Michoacan Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas, where he mingled with customers and sat down for an interview with Univision’s Luis Sandoval.

Biden first tested positive for COVID-19 in 2022. Days later, he had a rebound case of the coronavirus.